Om Ma Ni Pad Mey Hum - Jewel in the Lotus BRISBANE POWERHOUSE, 26th April - 30th April 2017“For as long as space endures, and for as long as living beings remain, until then may I too abide to dispel the misery of the world.” –Shanti Deva

Thank you for all those involved in this year’s Festival. It was a great succes Here are few videos of the festival made by Tempa la. enjoy in the side bar.

In its fourth year, sponsored by Perfect Potion and supported by Chenrezig Institute, Brisbane Powerhouse, ATC, Qld Tibetan Community and Dalia Lama in Australia – the Brisbane Festival of Tibet offers five days of Tibetan culture where audiences can participate in Tibet’s unique, philosophy, arts and way of life. The Festival celebrates Tibetan heritage, founded on the principles of compassion and non-violence, while addressing the issues which continue to threaten the future of Tibet. We are committed to ensuring the world heritageof Tibet is never lost or forgotten.

Tibetan paintings by Karma Phuntsok– The Festival will feature an exhibition of cutting edge contemporary Tibetan art by master painter Karma Phuntsok. Though formally trained, Karma applies a range of innovative techniques and materials in his work, creating unique and dynamic expressions of contemporary Buddhist Art. Karma’s art is featured in collections around the world including the Queensland Art Gallery and Art Gallery of New South Wales.

Weaving the World Together-During the Festival Tseten, a recent arrival from Tibet, demonstrates traditional techniques to create a beautiful carpet weaving. An exquisite collection of Tibetan carpets will be exhibited.

Having evolved in isolation, knotting methods used differ from all other traditions worldwide and once finished, most Tibetan rugs are ‘carved’ to outline elements of the design. Tibetan carpets are used for flooring, blankets, wall hangings, sleeping mats, chair covers and horse saddles and traditionally bear symbols to bestow prosperity, good luck, long life and protection.

Sand Mandala The Tashi Lhunpo Monks of Tibet share traditional sand painting techniques and create a magnificentsand mandalaover the five days of the Festival. The completed mandala will be dismantled and swept away in a final dissolution ceremony and the sand carried in ritual procession to the nearest moving water. There it will be symbolically scattered, thus dispersing the blessings and providing a powerful reminder of life’s impermanence. Formed of a traditional prescribed iconography that includes geometric shapes and a multitude of ancient spiritual symbols, the sand-painted mandala is used as a tool for re-consecrating the earth and its inhabitants.

Sand mandala making is a remarkably fine, intricate process, requiring patience, devotion, skill and creativity. For the experienced and proficient mandala maker, millions of grains of sand are painstakingly laid into place on a flat platform over a period of days or weeks.

The Sand Mandala is built from coloured sand, ground from rock from the Himalayas, and then poured precisely onto the mandala design using a ‘chak-pu’, a cone-shaped, fine-tipped metal funnel. To adjust the sand once it is on the blueprint, a metal scraper called a ‘gyud-ti’ (tantric knife) is used.

The mandala is constructed from the center outwards. Once the mandala is completed, it is then dismantled, first by the removal of each of the deities represented in the mandala and then with a ‘dorje’, the head lama cuts through the main lines, thus cutting the energy of the mandala. The remaining sand is then swept up into the center of the mandala and placed in an urn.

In a ritual procession, the monks then carry the sand to the nearest moving water, where the sand is symbolically scattered to demonstrate life’s impermanence.

The mandala is, in essence, a visualization tool, a symbol of a perfect world in which we are all perfect beings practicing the pure loving kindness and compassion that is innate in all living beings. Visualizing oneself in the center of this perfect world of the mandala creates the conditions for us to behave towards others with kindness and compassion, which in turn, causes them to develop a similar outlook and leads to the creation of such a perfect world.

This tradition has been preserved over the past 2500 years in an unbroken transmission from master to disciple.

Turbine Time 9am to 5pm Every day Dissolution Ceremony Time 11am Sun 5 Feb FREE

Namka Workshop -This workshop presents the simple, symbolic mechanics of Namka or Sky Weaving. While not well known in the west, Namka is one of a number of practices which pre-date the arrival of Buddhism in Tibet, later becoming absorbed into Buddhist tradition. Namkha weaving consists of individual thread-crosses using two or more sticks and threads of coloured wool or silk. The colours of the namka are symbolic of the elements (blue, green, red, white, and yellow for space, air, fire, water, and earth respectively).

Tibetan Calligraphy-Learn the fundamentals of Tibetan calligraphy with artist Karma Phuntsok. Karma teaches the formation of Tibetan script which is commonly used to write mantras and prayers and traditionally practised as a daily meditation. Tibetan calligraphy can be appreciated purely for its aesthetic beauty and, at the same time, for the profundity of Tibetan philosophy expressed by simple strokes of a bamboo pen.

Why Tibet? GrassrootsWorkshop-Ever wanted to take action for Tibet but don’t know where to start? Hosted by the Australia Tibet Council, this session addresses ways to promote human rights and democratic freedoms and encourage a peaceful and lasting solution to the Tibetan situation. Come along for an opportunity to meet others who care about Tibet and consider some of the ways we can all support the Tibetan community and help to create a better future.

Hand Mudra – The Great Hand Gestures-Mudras are a non-verbal mode of communication and self-expression, consisting of hand gestures and finger postures. Mudras constitute a highly stylized form of body or hand language; an external expression of ‘inner resolve’, suggesting this form of communication is more powerful than the spoken word. Tashi Lhunpo monks will share their knowledge of Chagya with the participants.

Tibetan Ritual Dance-The Tashi Lhunpo Monks of Tibet teach a simple Cham, or sacred dance, which is a feature of many Tibetan festivals. Accompanied by traditional Tibetan instruments, the Cham dancer performs solemn movements passed on in oral instruction from master to student. Described as “meditation in action” this ancient dance possesses many levels of meaning and is seen as a practice for purification and overcoming negative obstacles.

Sound healing is a beautiful way to clear and balance energies within the body and is used as a support for other treatments in the healing process. Join Thinley as he demonstrates how the healing vibrations created by Tibetan singing bowls and Tibetan bells utilise soundwaves to clear, rebalance and ground energy bodies and channels of flow. This is one workshop guaranteed to leave you feeling refreshed and re-energised.

Chakra Healing Through Aromatherapy Workshop– We invite you to learn about the chakras and how, when used with aromatherapy, they become one of the most dynamic tools for personal and spiritual growth. Chakras represent the major energy centres of our bodies and are connected to our mental, emotional and physical wellbeing. Subtle aromatherapy draws on the energetic or vibrational qualities of the essential oils which can be used in restoring your harmonic resonance. We invite you to learn about the chakras and how, when used with aromatherapy, they become one of the most dynamic tools for personal and spiritual growth.

Learn from qualified aromatherapist, author of the Complete Guide to Aromatherapy and Perfect Potion founder and managing director Sal Battaglia at this educational workshop.

The practice of drawing the Buddha is like a meditation, helping to purify negativities of body, speech and mind. Spend time with master painter Karma Phuntsok and explore your own creative skills while following a traditional grid to create an image of the historical Buddha. Karma expertly teaches the basic techniques and principles of Tibetan drawing and explains historical conventions for the creation of traditional images. Suitable for everyone, including beginners.

Tibetan medicine uses observation, healing and correction of physical, mental and energetic imbalances to address the well-being of the individual. This ancient form of holistic health care arose out of early indigenous Tibetan society and draws upon the ancient healing traditions of China, Persia, India and Greece. This is your opportunity to experience traditional Tibetan diagnostic and healing techniques with a personal consultation with Dr. Tsering Thakchoe.

Tsering Thakchoe Drungtso is a traditional Tibetan doctor graduated from Tibetan Medical and Astrological College (Men-Tsee-Khang) Dharamsala, India. He has been editor of many noted Tibetan magazines for health and well-being. He has a deep understanding of modern and traditional medicines and travelled extensively around the globe for healing seminars. He was also awarded the status of Visiting Research Associate Scholar and member at the Darwin College, Cambridge, UK in 2005. Doctor Tsering is a compassionate traditional practitioner while keeping the values of changing modern world.

Start your day with a clear and alert mind as the Monks from Tashi Lhunpo offer a special meditation experience employing mantra recitation – energy-based sounds which produce vibrations within the universe. The word “mantra” is derived from two Sanskrit words – man meaning mind and tra meaning “to protect or to free from”. By the end of the session you will have a general understanding of effective meditation techniques to help you face the world.